Actress Lin Yun recently shared with Marie Claire on 4/6 that despite her love for tennis, she has not played in a long time. She explained, "The basic reason is I don't have enough strength to play. Previously, when training for this sport, I used to eat a lot, and it was easy to gain weight." To avoid the cycle of playing sports, eating, gaining weight, and then rigorously dieting, she ceased the activity. For years, she has maintained her weight below 48 kg, despite being 1,69 m tall.
In previous interviews, Lin Yun revealed her strict dieting is solely for a better on-screen appearance. She confessed her true desire is to weigh over 50 kg. She advises young women that "being a bit fuller is cuter."
Lin Yun's disclosures sparked widespread discussion, with many suggesting the actress "pays a heavy price to maintain her image." Fans expressed concern online: "So thin that she can't play her favorite sport, why suffer like this?", "She always looks cheerful, I didn't expect her to be under such pressure," and "She should prioritize her health, don't push herself so hard."
Lin Yun is one of many actresses adhering to the "white, youthful, thin" aesthetic that has been prevalent in China for over a decade. According to Sohu, numerous entertainment stars adopt various methods to achieve pale skin, a youthful and delicate face, and a slender figure. Many routinely edit photos to slim down arms, legs, faces, and waists before posting them on social media. Even in many television dramas, the faces of lead actors are often digitally altered by the crew to appear thinner and paler.
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Lin Yun at the age of 30, she starred in Stephen Chow's "The Mermaid" and TV series "L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties", "The Other Side of the Flower", "A Dream of Splendor". Photo: Weibo |
Yu Zheng, a renowned Chinese film producer, once revealed he demands his company's actors lose weight. He notably required Zhao Qing, a newcomer to showbiz, to drop from 46 kg to 42,5 kg, despite her height of 1,7 m. Actress Xu Jiao, a friend of Zhao Qing, publicly criticized the producer on Weibo, writing: "Do you find this level of thinness beautiful? Forcing someone to weigh 42 kg is utterly cruel."
Vogue magazine commented on the "white, youthful, thin" trend, questioning: "Why are we overwhelmed by one aesthetic? When female artists are striving for better lives and bravely embracing life's challenges, we should also discard rigid, superficial beauty standards."
Nhu Anh
